Last week was National Pollinator Week, which means that there were many different activities and advocates for the preservation of pollinators. Why? Well, pollinators are more than just “annoying” or “scary” bees. In fact, there are over 100,000 different types of pollinators that help the world take care of its 215,000 kinds of plants.
What are pollinators?
Pollinators are certain animals that are in charge of moving pollen from flower to flower. These specific animals could include: “birds, bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, or more” as stated by Pollinator.org.
Why protect pollinators?
Pollination is important; therefore the animals that ease the process are important. Pollination helps with fertilization. Indeed, about 75% of flowering plant species need pollinators in order to transport the pollen and therefore aid in fertilizing many plants. According to the Committee on the Status of Pollinators in North America, if these animals were to become endangered due to the lack of protection, the plants that depend on them are at risk of becoming extinct.
We need to protect the pollinators because they are the reason behind the food one eats and the flowers one loves. Pollination allows a plant to produce goods and allows the same plant to reproduce.
How can one protect pollinators?
There are many ways that one can protect pollinators. First, try reducing the pesticides that are put on the grass and flowers, if the pesticides are still required then chose ones that have less amount of toxic. In addition, spray the pesticides late in the afternoon in order to assure that the wind is not strong and that the pollinators are not as active at that time of the day. Second, make sure to have a garden filled with flowers due to being able to supply the pollinators with plenty of food and shelter. Lastly, constantly have water, but remember to change it on a daily to avoid potential mosquito breeding grounds.
Attracting hummingbirds
As most people know, an easy and popular way to attract hummingbirds is through feeders. A good idea would be, filling the feeder with seeds and small insects; due to this being a hummingbird’s basic diet. However, in order to keep the hummingbirds from becoming ill, the feeders are to be cleaned out and refilled every 3 or 4 days. Another idea to make the garden appealing to the birds is to include bright flowers in your garden. Since hummingbirds have no sense of smell, they heavily rely on their sense of sight meaning they tend to go to bright-colored gardens. Total Landscape Care states that the flowers needed to attract these beautiful birds would be “Honeysuckle, Columbine, Coral Bells, Azaleas” to say the least. In addition to the food that is to be provided, a garden owner could have a birdbath so the hummingbirds have a place to rest and wash.
Attracting bees
People don’t want to attract bees out of fear. Yet, the majority of bees do not sting unless physically attacked. In fact, bees have provided the United States of America with over $18 billion in assets every year and are the ones behind the pollination of 90 different types of goods and crops. This proves that attracting bees is a beneficial process for many. A way that this can be done is by planting bright-colored flowers and by these flowers being “old-fashioned” due to these not being bred over time and therefore not having lost the fragrance, nectar, and pollen that tends to attract the species.
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